The official name of the major environmental bill in the Senate is the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. The unofficial name might be the Sen. John Chafee Act. The late Sen. Chafee — Republican of Rhode Island, strong environmentalist, dear friend of Maine — was not only a key supporter of this legislation, he understood that its widespread benefits and taxpayer-friendly funding source made it an ideal tool for important state programs.

Sen. Chafee did not live to see this act come to pass. But Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins can and should help carry on his good work by becoming enthusiastic supporters of the legislation.

CARA continues programs that have been used for more than three decades in Maine, funding them fully from revenues generated by the use of oil and gas reserves off the outer continental shelf. The current legislation taps into approximately $2.8 billion of the $4 billion generated each year by these assets, and would help Maine through traditional sources such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund (approximately $4 million annually for Maine) and the Coastal Conservation Fund (up to $15 million).

Maine has used funds to support thousands of projects over the years, including ball fields and swimming pools, tennis courts and nature trails. Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, Moosehorn, Petit Manan and dozens of other well-known areas in Maine have been supported through the funding. In addition, CARA provides money for urban parks, conservation easements, species recovery and land restoration. Maine’s congressional delegation has relied on these sources of revenue countless times to bring federal support to local projects.

The act is useful to Maine in another way, as well. Because LWCF specifically prohibits the use of its funds for the creation of a national park, Maine can preserve vital areas, provide plenty of public access to undeveloped places and obviate the drive for a new park in Northern Maine. Supporting this measure is a winning strategy for the environment and the traditional economy of the northern half of the state.

More than 200 Maine businesses, land trusts, communities and state associations have signed on as members of a coalition to urge passage of CARA. Maine Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen became co-sponsors of parallel measures that passed in the House. Sens. Snowe and Collins have not as yet been as enthusiastic.

Maine, and the nation, benefits from these targeted funds for conservation and recreation. But the proposal in the Senate needs a push if it is to be enacted this year. Maine’s senators, like Sen. Chafee before them, can lead the way.